Example 1
Three notebooks cost £1.20 each. What is the total cost?
- Each notebook costs £1.20.
- There are 3 notebooks, so multiply by 3.
- £1.20 × 3 = £3.60
So: The total cost is £3.60.
Back to National 3
Topic
Money
Money questions use pounds and pence, totals, change, best value, wages, budgeting, and shared costs.
Topic explanation
Money is usually written to two decimal places. £4.50 means four pounds and fifty pence.
When comparing value, make the quantities match. For example, compare one item with one item.
For budgets, list income and spending clearly, then subtract the spending from the income to find what is left.
Quick methods
- Total cost
- Multiply the price of one item by the number of items.
- Change
- Subtract the cost from the amount paid.
- Best value
- Make the amounts match, then compare.
- Budget
- Add spending, then subtract it from the money available.
Worked examples
Example 2
A pack of 6 bottles costs £4.20. What is the cost per bottle?
- Divide the total price by the number of bottles.
- £4.20 divided by 6 = £0.70
- £0.70 is 70 pence.
So: Each bottle costs 70 pence.
Example 3
A pupil has £30.00 and spends £8.50 on travel and £6.50 on food. How much is left?
- Add the spending: £8.50 + £6.50 = £15.00
- Subtract the spending from the money available.
- £30.00 − £15.00 = £15.00
So: £15.00 is left.